Wouldn’t it be terrible if you were created with no hope? Wouldn’t it be terrible if God only chose certain persons to receive salvation and all others would be condemned to hell? Many have been taught that same thing, that no matter how hard the tried or what they did they had no hope and were doomed from the beginning. Is that what the Bible says?
First of all, God is love (1 Jn. 4:16). Secondly, Acts 10:34 declares that God is not a respecter of persons. Thirdly John 3:16 spells it out very clearly. It says: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Did you notice the word “whosoever”? Look at Romans 3:22 Romans 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference”. Once again notice the word “all”. Romans 5:18 informs us: Romans 5:18 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
Righteousness is a free gift of God to all who will believe in salvation through His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10 is a word to all of us. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 1Joshua 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.” I draw your attention to two specific words in this verse. The first is whosoever. That declares that there are no exceptions. It is a matter of individual choice. The second word that I want you to consider is “believeth”. To truly believe something is to not only say so but to make provision for. It implies to respond accordingly. If you truly believed the roof above your head was going to collapse and fall in 3 minutes you would immediately respond by vacating the building. If you truly believe that Jesus and Jesus alone is the Savior and that it is only through Him that you can have eternal life and be forgiven of your sins (John 14:6) you will respond to Him.
What about being predestined? Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that God has chosen who may be saved before the foundation of the earth? What about that? That is true. It is through God’s grace and mercy and love that He chose for all of mankind to be saved through His Son Jesus. That was the price Jesus paid on Calvary’s Cross. God opened the door to us all. Still, it is a matter of choice. We can either accept or reject God’s plan for us. He made us free moral agents. Remember, God is love and not willing that any should perish. “Whosoever” left no exceptions and only one condition. You must “believe”. If you truly believe, your lifestyle and your words will show it. It is more than just an acknowledgement that God’s Word is true. To believe means we do all we can to conform to it. Your choice. God made His long ago. His love reaches out even now to you. But, you must be born again by the blood of Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Savior.
Maranatha!